PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

The victim of a motor vehicle collision is partially blaming the City of Philadelphia for

her injuries, claiming in a recently filed civil action that malfunctioning traffic lights were at least in part to blame for the accident involving her and another driver.

Attorney Marc F. Greenfield, of the Philadelphia firm Spear, Greenfield & Richman, filed a personal injury claim Dec. 3 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Caressa Barr, and against Philadelphia residents Dwayne Taylor and Lasonji Hill, as well as the city itself.

The complaint states that the plaintiff was operating her vehicle in the area of Stenton Avenue and Old York Road back on Jan. 5 of this year when she was suddenly struck by a vehicle driven by defendant Taylor, and co-owned by Hill.

Barr faults the city for carelessly, negligently and recklessly allowing a defective/malfunctioning traffic light to remain at the intersection in question.

As a result of the vehicle accident, the lawsuit claims, Barr sustained physical injuries including a disc protrusion, an annular tear, as well as cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine sprains and strains.

Barr has also suffered from permanent and serious disfigurement, the suit alleges.

“As a result of these injuries, all of which are permanent in nature and all of which are to plaintiff’s great financial detriment and loss, plaintiff has in the past, is presently, and may in the future suffer great pain, anguish, sickness and agony and will continue to suffer for an indefinite time into the future,” the complaint states.

Defendant Taylor is accused of operating a motor vehicle in a negligent, careless and/or reckless manner without regard for the rights or safety of the plaintiff and others; failing to have his vehicle under proper control; operating a vehicle at a dangerous and excessive rate of speed; and other acts of negligence.

The suit also contains a personal injury count against the City of Philadelphia whereby the plaintiff accuses the city of disregarding malfunctioning traffic lights and signals; failing to fix and/or maintain traffic lights and signals; being inattentive to defendant’s duties as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; failing to give the plaintiff meaningful warning signs concerning the malfunctioning traffic lights and signals; and failing to be highly vigilant and maintain sufficient maintenance of traffic lights and signals.

Barr seeks judgment in excess of $50,000 for compensatory damages, exclusive of interest and litigation costs.

 

The case ID number is 121200038.